A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe State, backed by Nyesom Wike, has confirmed that a court-ordered fresh governorship primary election will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The party's State Publicity Secretary, Abdulkadir Ahmed Dukku, disclosed this in a telephone interview. Dukku said the fresh primary would be conducted in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe, which nullified the earlier primary that produced a candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Three aspirants have been cleared to participate in the exercise: former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Usman Aliyu Garry; and Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki. Dukku dismissed reports that Pantami had been barred from participating in the fresh primary, saying the party was not aware of any Supreme Court judgment preventing him from contesting. The aspirants were cleared after a screening committee led by former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, had earlier screened the party's governorship aspirants.
However, Garry, who challenged the earlier primary that produced Pantami, has opposed Pantami's participation in today's rerun. Garry said the fresh primary should be restricted to eligible aspirants in line with the court order, insisting that Pantami should not be allowed to contest. He based his position on his interpretation that Pantami's name was not contained in the list of governorship aspirants submitted by the PDP to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on May 10.
According to Garry, Pantami joined the PDP on May 19, and the court also confirmed that. Therefore, his name was not on the list of the party's aspirants submitted to INEC. Garry urged the PDP and INEC to ensure that the primary was conducted transparently and in accordance with the court's judgment. He and other aspirants had written to the PDP leadership and INEC, urging them to prevent Pantami from participating in the fresh exercise.
Meanwhile, Mailantarki expressed confidence ahead of the exercise and called on PDP supporters across the state's 114 wards and 11 local government areas to remain calm and united. The former member of the House of Representatives also urged the party leadership to provide a level playing field for all aspirants, saying transparency and fairness were necessary to maintain the unity of the party.
Mailantarki said the court judgment had vindicated his position that the earlier primary was marred by irregularities and did not reflect the wishes of party members. The fresh primary election is expected to be a crucial step towards producing a candidate for the 2027 general elections. The PDP and INEC are expected to ensure that the primary is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
The outcome of the fresh primary election will have significant implications for the PDP in Gombe State and the 2027 general elections. The party's ability to conduct a transparent and fair primary will be crucial in determining its chances in the elections. The aspirants and their supporters are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the exercise, which is expected to produce a candidate for the party.
Key points
- The Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the PDP in Gombe State will hold a fresh governorship primary election on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
- Three aspirants, including Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, have been cleared to participate in the exercise.
- The fresh primary election is being held in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Gombe.
